Vanity is the most despotic and iniquitous of masters, and I can never be the slave of my own vices.

GEORGE SAND, Teverino

Let us see a true-hearted man crushing that vermin called vice, braving that luxury, scorning with easy and simple logic the silly vanity which induces men to appear strong in absurdity and powerful in the abuse of life ... such vanity is always punished by nature, which vindicates its rights.